Demetrius and Cecile — Playing Mad Libs

Artemis was a goddess made by hands. She was first invented by human minds, and then later became incarnate by taking on silver. Christ humbled Himself and took on flesh, Artemis was humbled by her many makers and was made into silver. She was Zues’ daughter, Apollos’ twin, and loved by Ephesus. And given all the pictures, she was good with a bow.She was a false goddess worshiped by idolaters, and Paul was grieved by idols. In Acts 17 Paul preaches against the religious men of Athens and all of their false gods. And since they didn’t kill him, Paul continued to march around with the Gospel decrying all the world’s idols. This Gospel was effective, and it destroyed the profit of idols.

“For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-27596AM" data-link="(AM)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”>brought no little business to the craftsmen. These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, ‘Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth.And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-27598AO" data-link="(AO)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”>saying that <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-27598AP" data-link="(AP)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”>gods made with hands are not gods.And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-27599AQ" data-link="(AQ)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”>great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.’ When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!’”

-Acts 19: 25-28

Demetrius was going out of business. And he was going out of business because the Gospel was stealing his customers. People who worship the true God have no need for idols. Thus, Paul toppled this organization, not through Ephesian legislation or supporting the up and coming Ephesian candidate. Paul did not de-fund Demetrius because of the kind of silver he was using, or the dangerous and frankly unsanitary way he fashioned idols. Paul did not cease all Ephesian funding to Demetrius, Paul changed the Ephesians.What was it that this Paul guy was doing that had the Ephesians so uptight?

“[Paul] entered the synagogue [in Ephesus] and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.”

-Acts 19: 8-10

Paul’s preaching changed hearts. Paul’s Gospel saved people. Paul boldly brought the Gospel to the culture, and that Gospel ran silversmiths out of business. This is not to say that it’s inappropriate to praise God as States are beginning to cease funding to Planned Parenthood. That’s good. That’s awesome. This is not to say it’s wrong or ineffective to vote politically against abortion. We should do that. The point is not to say “stop”, but to say “start”. Start preaching. Bring the Gospel to the world. Repentance is a gift, we are always dependent upon God to bring about repentance, but He brings it about through the Gospel. We need to end abortion by converting abortion lovers. Mad Libs are fun. Shall we? I have filled in some of the blanks for you, the rest are for you to do.

For a woman named Cecile Richards, Planned Parenthood’s President, who makes abortions accessible and legal, brought no little business to the country. These she gathered together, with the workers in similar trades, and said, “Abortionists, you know that from this business we have our wealth. And you see and hear that not only in (Your city here) but in almost all of (Your State Here) this (Your Local Church Here) has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that (The Sin of Abortion and the Hope of The Gospel Here). And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess of Rebellious, Sexual Autonomy may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all (Your Country Here) and the world worship.” When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, ‘A woman’s right to choose is great in America!‘”